ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
108
ELECTRICAL DIAGNOSIS
NOTE:
Electrical diagnostic procedures and
tools are the same for all Cub Cadet and MTD
tractors. This section is written in a way to pro-
vide basic trouble shooting skills that can be
used on any tractor.
With a basic understanding of the behavior of electricity
and the tools used to measure that behavior, a techni-
cian can be about 80% effective at finding electrical
problems. 80% effective is not bad, but the remaining
20% of the diagnoses are the really difficult ones that
can devour the same amount of time as the easy
80%. Experience plays a big part in successfully diag-
nosing the really difficult electrical problems. Experi-
ence leads to greater understanding.
Two German Physicists, working independently during
the late 18th and early 19th centuries summarized
what they had figured-out about electricity into some
basic laws that can help a technician understand how a
system works or why it does not work. Their names
were Gustav Kirchhoff and Georg Ohm, and their laws
are named for them.
There are basically three things that a technician is
likely to test in trying to identify an electrical problem:
Volts, Resistance, and Current. To help technicians
understand the behavior of electricity, this section
begins with an explanation of:
•
Basic electrical values.
•
Ohm’s law.
•
Kirchhoff’s current law.
•
Kirchhoff’s voltage law.
•
How the system is wired together.
NOTE:
A graphic explanation of Kirchhoff’s laws
can be found at the following web site:
http://online.cctt.org/physicslab/content/phyapb/
lessonnotes/DCcircuits/lessonKirchoff.asp
The section then continues by explaining handy tools
and techniques for diagnosing electrical problems on
outdoor power equipment.
Electronics
The outdoor power equipment has historically had rela-
tively simple electro-mechanical controls. Customer
expectations and regulatory demands continue to drive
change in the industry, while electronic controls have
become relatively inexpensive.
In many cases, electronic controls can simplify a sys-
tem that would otherwise be very complex. Instead of
creating a huge mass of switches and relays that are
tied together by spaghetti-like wiring harness, sensors
(switches) in an electronic system send signals to a
processor. These input signals are processed by a
control module that produces outputs.
Outputs can include power to run an electric PTO
clutch, a trigger signal to a starter solenoid, or the
grounding of a magneto to turn-off an engine if an
unsafe condition exists.
Most electronic devices are quite dependable, but they
are vulnerable to things that simple electrical devices
are not bothered by. Examples include:
•
EMI:
Electro-Magnetic Interference is created by
electronic “noise”. This noise is created by igni-
tion systems in general with non-resistor spark
plugs being especially “noisy”. Alternators, and
even power passing through wires can also gen-
erate EMI. Countermeasures against EMI
include metal shielding (take a look at the igni-
tion system on a fiberglass-bodied Corvette),
and filtering devices built into vulnerable compo-
nents. Something as simple as putting non-
resistor spark plugs in a machine with electronic
controls can disable the controls.
•
Voltage Spikes:
A dramatic increase in voltage
will damage many electronic devices. Such
spikes may be caused when jumper cables are
disconnected or a voltage regulator fails. Some
early automotive systems could even be dam-
aged by personal discharge of static electricity.
Most are better protected now.
•
Low Voltage:
Many electronic devices simply
stop working if system voltage falls below a
given threshold. If a 12 volt system is run at 11
volts with a failing alternator, electronic controls
may stop working.
•
Bad Grounds:
Bad grounds can reduce the
effective system voltage, create resistance and
heat, and send false signals. This is the single
most common breeding ground of electronic
gremlins.
Summary of Contents for 900 series
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Page 6: ......
Page 12: ...ENGINE RELATED PARTS 6 ...
Page 62: ...HYDRO DRIVE AND BRAKE SYSTEM 56 ...
Page 98: ...CVT Drive and brake system 92 ...
Page 135: ...ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 129 Schematics LECTRIC 04 ...
Page 136: ...ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 130 ANUAL 04 ...
Page 152: ...Cutting Decks And Lift Shaft 146 ...
Page 158: ...APPENDIX 152 ...
Page 165: ...310 0510 IHT 5 MODEL RECOGNITION 618 0319 166768 104 1760 173839 036932 618 0389A ...
Page 190: ...310 0510 IHT 30 310 0710 EXPLODED VIEW ...
Page 192: ...310 0510 IHT 32 310 0610 EXPLODED VIEW ...
Page 194: ...310 0510 IHT 34 310 0510 EXPLODED VIEW 6 SEALANT 57 20W 50 OIL 127 SEAL O RING KIT ...
Page 198: ...310 0510 IHT 38 2008 HYDRO GEAR Printed in U S A Rev P1 ...